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ENQUIRE
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I. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they enquire ... he / she / it enquires
Past simple: enquired
Past participle: enquired
-ing form: enquiring
Sense 1
Meaning:
Have a wish or desire to know something
Example:
He wondered who had built this beautiful church
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "enquire" is one way to...):
query; question (pose a question)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enquire"):
request (inquire for (information))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE
Sense 2
Meaning:
Conduct an inquiry or investigation of
Example:
inquire into the disappearance of the rich old lady
Synonyms:
enquire; inquire; investigate
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "enquire" is one way to...):
examine; probe (question or examine thoroughly and closely)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enquire"):
spy (secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Derivation:
enquirer (someone who asks a question)
enquiry (a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Address a question to and expect an answer from
Example:
He had to ask directions several times
Synonyms:
ask; enquire; inquire
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "enquire" is one way to...):
communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)
Verb group:
ask (direct or put; seek an answer to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enquire"):
pry (be nosey)
query; question (pose a question)
interrogate; question (pose a series of questions to)
confer with; consult (get or ask advice from)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE
Sentence example:
They enquire whether there was a traffic accident
Derivation:
enquirer (someone who asks a question)
enquiry (an instance of questioning)
Context examples:
It was an afternoon of distress, and Anne had every thing to do at once; the apothecary to send for, the father to have pursued and informed, the mother to support and keep from hysterics, the servants to control, the youngest child to banish, and the poor suffering one to attend and soothe; besides sending, as soon as she recollected it, proper notice to the other house, which brought her an accession rather of frightened, enquiring companions, than of very useful assistants.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
Mrs. Jennings laughed heartily; and Elinor found that in her resolution to know where they had been, she had actually made her own woman enquire of Mr. Willoughby's groom; and that she had by that method been informed that they had gone to Allenham, and spent a considerable time there in walking about the garden and going all over the house.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
The careless expression was life to Anne, who saw that Captain Wentworth was all attention, looking and listening with his whole soul; and that the last words brought his enquiring eyes from Charles to herself.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
To enquire after Marianne was at first his excuse; but the encouragement of his reception, to which every day gave greater kindness, made such an excuse unnecessary before it had ceased to be possible, by Marianne's perfect recovery.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Anne enquired after Captain Benwick.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
This was a subject which ensured Marianne's attention, and she was beginning to describe her own admiration of these scenes, and to question him more minutely on the objects that had particularly struck him, when Edward interrupted her by saying, You must not enquire too far, Marianne—remember I have no knowledge in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste if we come to particulars.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring about her in such a way, said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke; but perhaps there may be reasons—I wish I might venture; but however I hope you will do me the justice of believing that I do not mean to be impertinent.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Mrs. Smith had somehow or other been informed, I imagine by some distant relation, whose interest it was to deprive me of her favour, of an affair, a connection—but I need not explain myself farther, he added, looking at her with an heightened colour and an enquiring eye—your particular intimacy—you have probably heard the whole story long ago.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which means there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, while he hung about her and held down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he could make noise enough at home.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
